Around Father’s Day, I always notice how our society portrays dads — aloof, absent, uninvolved, or selfish.
The Bible paints a very different picture of what it means to be a dad. A father needs to correct and instruct his children. Far too many men have abdicated the role of discipline to the mother. By doing so, they have forsaken one of the primary duties that God has given them over their children. The responsibility of discipline and correction lays at the feet of the father. In Proverbs 3:12, Solomon tells us how God corrects his children, then reminds us how it is similar to a Dad correcting his children, “For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” The dad in proverbs corrects the son he loves. The proverb says the father has delight in his son – he loves him, and because he loves him, he corrects him when he is not walking in the right path.
Paul uses similar language when he describes his own ministry in 1Thessalonias 2:11. “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children.” Paul acted like a father should. He exhorted them, or urged them on to do the right thing. Fathers need to correct their children when they do wrong, but also exhort them to do right. Nothing is more frustrating for a child than to always be told what not to do, but never instructed on what they need to do. Paul also comforted them, or gave them heart to press on in their work. Dad needs to show the right way, but work in the heart of the child to want to do the right thing. Bengel said, “Exhortation leads one to do a thing willingly; consolation, to do it joyfully.” Paul charged the church or appealed to their solemn responsibility to God to walk worthy. The father has the duty, but also the responsibility to raise his children and his authority comes from God. It doesn’t come from being bigger and stronger or having a deeper voice. The authority to lead, teach, instruct, and correct is given by God.
Don’t let this go to your head. Where some men would rather go play and leave the children to mom, other men become overbearing dictators and see their children as little serfs. Psalm 103:13 says, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” Dad, you need to have compassion on your children. Remember their frame. You want them to grow up to be strong men and godly women, but they are not there yet. Have compassion, take interest, get involved, love them and lead them. They may not like it and you may not to get to be their buddy, but you are their Dad, and they would much rather have you be their father than for you to be their buddy.
